My husband finished 35 rads/3 rounds Cisplatin for stage 4 SCC of Tonsil 3 weeks ago. Life is still very rough. I'm hearing anywhere from 1-2 years for recovery. What is realistic for an active quality of life of work, family, and really living again? We knew this wouldn't be an easy or quick road. Thoughts?

My husband finished mid May and I've been pleasantly surprised at how he is coming along at this point.
While there are on going issues like not eating as much as he used to he is putting weight on. His energy is lower but he is working, gardening, doing some wood working and walking the dogs every day. His concentration is much better as his is mood.
So, while there is certainly more stuff we want to see improve and everyone is different I don't think you'll have to wait a year to see improvement.
The first month after treatment sucked and after that I could literally start to see the improvements in him!!!

I had the same treatment as your husband and I started back to work part time (four hours/day) 7 weeks after treatment ended. I was quite apprehensive about it but it turned out to be really good for me. Made me feel more "normal" since going to work every day is what I've always done. I am lucky to have a very understanding employer and I was allowed to come and go however/whenever I needed for as long as it took.

At this point (five months post treatment) I'm working full time and doing just about anything I would have done before treatment. I still have to watch what I eat (nothing too acidic, salty, spicy or with black pepper, and nothing too dry) but I'm getting used to it. Subway sandwiches are my new favorite (flatbread is thin and soft and for calories and moisture I have them add smashed avocado and oil) - I never ate "fast food" before treatment and didn't like sandwiches - but things change. It isn't necessarily bad, just different.

Each of us can respond differently but 1 to 2 years is kinda the norm with the 1st year being the most challenging both mentally and physically. I was back to riding with a vengeance 9 months post Tx and maybe could have done so sooner but tax season got in the way. This recovery is not fun but it was soooo much better than that damn Tx. lol

I have started getting back to normal just recently after 14 months, but my case isn't norm as I also have MS which made recovery much slower and the dr has just confirmed that my thyroid is damaged which is probably causing the weakness I am experiencing, have been on meds for it for 3 weeks now and am starting to feel a difference. I have played more golf in the past 2 weeks than I have in the past 3 or 4 months. It is slow but it is great when it happens.

I began to feel better after 3 weeks post treatment. My fatigue was still a problem and it took alot of work to make it thru a full day without taking naps. I returned to my office job part time 7 week post radiation/chemo. It took me til I was 4 month post treatment to return to working full time.

Alot will depend on your husbands age, physical condition before treatment, type of work, normal energy level, and frame of mind. Best wishes for a quick recovery.